Australians dominate after World Cup cross-country

Australian riders continue to dominate after the cross-country phase at the final eventing World Cup contest, in Le Pin, France.

Clayton Fredericks and Be My Guest.

Cédric Lyard and Cadeau du Roi.

Dressage leader Sam Griffiths and Real Dancer dropped 10 places after going over time, but compatriot Clayton Fredericks rode Be My Guest to a clean, fast round to take over the lead. His second mount, Dunges Laurent Rose, dropped from third to fourth place.

Fellow Australian Chris Burton moved up from third to second on Newsprint, with his second mount Holstein Park Leilani zooming up the rankings from 15th to sixth.

In third going into the dressage is Australia's Paul Tapner on Kilfinnie II, coming up from seventh. Fifth is World Cup leader, Clarke Johnstone (NZ) and Orient Express.

Eddy Sans has been replaced as the top French rider by Cédric Lyard, whose two horses are 7th (Cadeau du Roi) and 8th (Narcos de Soulac). Next, in ninth place, is New Zealand's Mark Todd on NZB Campino, whose time faults drop the combination from fifth place.

Sam Griffiths and Real Dancer are now in 11th place, and his second mount, Paulank Brockagh, is 15th, moving up from 19th after the dressage.

Fredericks said the course had the best ground he had seen this season. "The ground was really, really good today," he said. "It's the best I've ridden on this season. Pierre Le Goupil, the course designer, and his team have done a great job".

• Young Belgian rider Lara de Liedekerke kept her lead in the CIC 2 star after the show jumping. She is followed by late entrant Kenki Sato, of Japan, who is only 6.1 points behind. New Zealand's Mark Todd is now in ninith place on Willy Do after dropping a rail and picking up some time faults.